Army Air Force Officers Training School Oct 1942; Air Intelligence School early 1943;

Military Specialty(ies):

MOS 9301-Intelligence Staff Officer,

Rank Upon Discharge:

Major

Crew Type:

Ground crew

Airplane Serial No.& Name:

Were you a POW?

No

Were you interned?

No

Date Transferred from the 58th:

Fall 1944

Date Discharged from the 58th:

Spring 1945

Post-WWII Military Service:

Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s):

Author, lecturer, explorer, owner and operator of Stove Pipe Well hotel in Death Valley. As a former member of the New York publishing house, George Palmer Putnam and Sons, Major Putnam negotiated with Charles A. Lindberg for publishing rights to the famous aviator’s book “We.” As an explorer, Putnam had several notable Arctic expeditions to his credit and was associated with such exploits as Adm. Byrd’s North and South Pole expeditions, Sir Hubert Wilkins flights and the exploration and publishing activities of Roy Chapman Andrews, William Beebe, Rockwell Kent, etc.

Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing:

Major Putnam served in both wars, as a lieutenant of field artillery in World War I and as a major of intelligence with a Superfortress outfit in World War II. He saw considerable service in the China theatre.

Comments:

Mr. Putnam passed away January 4, 1950 in Trona, CA and is interred at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, CA.